The Legacy Project

Cornell Professor Karl Pillemer, founder of The Legacy Project: Lessons for Living from the Wisest Americans, collected over 1,500 interviews of elders on a variety of subjects. In text and video, the oldest living generations of Americans share their experiences.

The Legacy Project: Lessons for Living from the Wisest Americans was established by Cornell Medical School Professor of Gerontology Karl Pillemer. The project records the wisdom of American elders collected from interviews on a variety of subjects. In text and video, the oldest living generations of Americans share their experiences.

The website offers the opportunity for viewers to browse interviews by topic, ranging from money to faith and spirituality. You will be touched by the tenderness, humor, and authenticity of these elders.

Read and listen to these stories with your students, and reflect on how the lessons can be incorporated into this generation's values. We've selected a few favorites.